Ricochet

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the string staff as ricochet or jeté over a group of notes slurred together, often with staccato dots under the slur. It applies to the marked groups and ends with another bowing word or ordinary slurs.

Also spelled: jeté

How Composers Use It

The bow is thrown onto the string and left to bounce, producing several notes in one stroke — two to six or so, depending on speed. It is most often a down-bow effect, best on quick, equal notes, sometimes across strings. The slur sets the number of bounces but not their exact speed, so do not use it for rhythms that must be precisely measured.

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